Rotary diamond rock-boring machine



(No Model.\

J. B. JOHNSON.

ROTA-RY DIAMOND ROCK BORING MACHINE.

Patented'June 6, 1882.

F ff? ESEEE '2 lIFP/Euhm y Nirnn STATES JAMES BROWN JOHNSON, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

ROTARY DIAMOND ROCK-BORING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 259,281, dated June 6, 1882.

Application filed August 11, 1881.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J-Ainns BROWN JOHN- soN, of Boston, county of Suffolk, and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Rotary Diamond Rock-Boring Machine, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification.

My invention 'relates to improvements in rotary motors for boring with diamond drills or other similar uses, so devised that I am enabled to run them at great speed without side pressure or friction on the journals. They are compact, stron g, and light, and occupy but little space, work compressed air expansively with greateconomy, have automatic feed, withdraw the drill from the bore-hole instantaneously, use the air after having done its work in the machine and exhausted therefrom to blow the reduced rock from the bore-hole, and to keep the diamond bit cool.

In the description I shall speak of air as the motive power; but steam may be used in surface-boring.

My improvements are, rst, a rotating device attached to a hollow spindle and contained within a piston, which is placed within and slides freely in an elongated cylinder, the rotating spindle sliding out through a stuffingbox in the lower head of the cylinder, said cylinder being provided with a passage outside of its bore, extending from its top to its bottom end, the passage having suitable ports at its upper part and a valve so constructed that with the connecting-ports it regulates the pressure of feed on the boring-bit, makes the feed automatic, and withdraws the drill from the bore-hole instantaneously.

Second, the device to use the exhaust air, after having done its work in the machine, to keep the diamonds cool and blow the reduced rock from the bore-hole.

Third, the rotating device, consisting of an admission and cut-off valve, constructed to out oft' air at any part of the revolution ofthe revolving piston, attached to the upper end of the revolving spindle and arranged to admit and cut off the air by a single port from the two revolving pistons at the same instant.

Fourth, the main piston composed of upper and lower heads, and the two rings having a (No model.)

partition between them, the rings having each a system of admission and exhaust ports and each an abutment-valve, all constructed precisely alike, but are so set that similar ports in each are on opposite sides of the center of motion from each other. Within these rings, and keyed to the revolving spindle, are the two revolving pistons. These pistons are of such form that just before the exhaust-ports open they swing the abutment-valves into the recesses of the rings.

Fifth, the admission-ports in the pistonrings and in the top of the piston are one continuous port, connected with the single opening operated on by the cut-oft' valve. The piston-rings have two exhaust-ports, which carry exhaust air to the holes in the revolving spindie. This spindle is made hollow, and within it is held, by a chuck on its front end, the drillrod or exhaust-pipe, made hollow and not titting the hole drilled in the rock. The exhaust air escapes through this pipe to the bit, and up outside of it to the atmosphere.

In the back head of the main cylinder is fixed a pipe, passing air-tight through the top end of the rotating spindle to its enlarged interior. This pipe may be used as a water-jet to partially condense the exhaust-steam (when steam is used) for an exhaust-pipe; or when the machine is fitted to drill deep holes it may be enlarged to allow the drill-pipe to pass e11- tirely through the machine. At the side of the main cylinder occupied by the side port or passage to admit air to the bottom end is a rib of suitable form to secure the column or tripod to clamp to, which holds the machine in position for work.

Figure l is a longitudinal section, showing the main elongated cylinder, the piston with its attached parts, the hollow rotating spindie, the drill-rod, the pipe-'xed in the back head of the main cylinder, and the side passage with its ports and valve near its top. Fig. 2 is an end view of the machine with the head removed, and shows the plan of the admission and cut-off valve in position to admit air to the port in the piston, also an end view of the starting and regulating valve with its ports. Fig. 3 shows one pistonring, abutment-valves, and revolving pistons in position to take air for a revolution. Fig. 4t shows IOO one pistonring, abutment-valves, and pistons in position just before the exhaust commences. Fig. 5 is a plan of fly-wheel and chuck which is attached to the lower end of the rotating spindle, holding the drill-rod in position.

In Fig. l, A is the main elongated cylinder, with the side passage, D, at the top end of which are the ports F and G and the starting and regulating valve E, operated by the handwheelH. IntheboreofthecylinderAisthepiston B, the piston -rings I I, showing the exhaust-ports S S, the revolving pistons JJ, and the revolving spindle G, to the top of which is keyed the admission and cuto valve T to open and close the port c in the piston B, said port c branching to opposite sides, as more fully seen in Fig. 2, and conveying air to the rings I I. d is the annular exhaust-space in the lower piston-head, and from which exhaust air enters the hollowT spindle G through the holes K. X X are the two bolts securing t-he whole together and forming a pivot for the abutment-valves O O, Fig. 3, to swing on. L is the exhaust and drill pipe within the spindle C. N is a pipe fixed in the back head, Q, and extending into the hollw spindle G. M is the iiy-wheel. U is the chuck, having setscrews V V, Fig. 5, to hold the drill-pipe in position. W is the stuffing-box to pack the spindle C.

Fig. 2 is an end view of the main cylinder A with the head Q removed, and shows the pian of admission and cut-oft' valve T, also an end view of the starting and regulating valve E, and in dotted lines the port c, which is opened and closed by the valve T. Said port c branches Ato the two opposite ports, R R, which convey air simultaneously to the rings I I. The position of the ports F G and passage D to the bottom ot' the main cylinder are also shown in dotted lines. a is a groove in the cylinder A, cut the whole length of its bore. In piston B is "xed'a pin, working in the groove a, which prevents the piston B from turning in the cylinder A. b is a groove cut through the piston B, and acts as a small port to admit a portion of air from the bottom of cylinder A to the space above piston B.

Fig. 3 shows one ofthe rings I with its system of admission and exhaust ports. The abutment-valves O O and revolving pistons J J are shown in their position when commencing to take air fora revolution. The lower revolving piston, with its abutment -valve, is shown in dotted lines in opposite positions.

In Fig. 4 the revolving pistons J J are shown just before the exhaust opens. Owing to the shape of the` revolving pistons J J, they have forced the abutment-valves into the recesses P P, which prevents the airin the ports being wasted with the exhaust. S S are the exhaust-ports passing down to the annular space al, Fig. l. D is a section of the passage to the lower end of the cylinder A. Y shows the form of the clamp-rib.

Fig. 5 is a plan of the iiy-wheel, which has the two set-screws V V and the pressingclamp U in position to hold the drill-pipe.

The operation is as follows, the machine being attached to the tripod or column and xed in position for work with the drill-pipe adjusted: The internal parts being at the top of the cylinder A, the starting-valve E is forced downward by turning the wheel H, thereby admitting compressed air to the ports F and G and to the lower side of the pistonB through the passage D, and can pass up through the port b, the air being now of equal pressure above and below the piston B. The revolving spindle C, extending out through the stuffing-box in the lower head to the atmosphere, causing the air to act on a larger surface above the piston B than below it, forces it and its parts, with the revolving spindle, to the rock to be bored. Should the valve E be drawn back so as to partially close the port F, the pressure will be greatest below the piston B, causing the boring-bit to bear with less force on the rock, and by further vdrawing back the valve E and closing the port F, air still entering at port G, the bit will be forced back out of the bore-hole. Thus by the proper adjustment ot' the valve E any pressure desired can be had on the bit, or its instantaneouswithdrawal from the bore-hole be effected. Air enters the port c in the piston B and passes through the ports RB. to the interior of the rings I I, and forces around the revolving pistons J J, acting simultaneouslyon both the pistonsin opposite directions. The side pressure on the journals is neutralized and the friction is reduced to aminimum. The entering air, having forced the pistons J J a part of a revolution, is cut oft' by the cut-oft' valve T, closing the port c, and by expanding continues to force the pistons around until the exhaust-opening is passed. Just before the pistons are in position to allow air to escape they swing the vabutment-valve O O into the recesses P P, preventing the `air in the ports from escaping with the exhaust. This air also serves to cushion the backward throw of the abutment-valves, and is reserved for the next revolution. When the cut-off valve closes both the revolving pistons get the same relative amount of expansion, though the ports are of unequal length, as the said ports are both connected below the cut-oft' valve. The exhaust air passes to the annular space d, and through the holes K to the revolving spindle G, and through the drill-pipe L to the working-bit. The released air, being intensely cold, keeps the diamonds in the bit cool. The drillpipe not filling the hole being bored, the es! caping air blows the reduced rock up outside of it to the surface. Should steam be used as a motive power, a small jet of water, under pressure, can be admitted through the pipe N. The water should be regulated so as to but partially condense the exhaust steam, and steam and water, being thus blown to the bit, serve the same purpose as the exhaust air.

IOO

IOS

IIO

.within the piston B,consisting of the rotating form a seat, within which is fitted the semicir- I am aware that the admission and eut-off valve T and the rotating device contained pistons J J and the abutment-valves O O, are not new; but,

Having thus fully described my improvements, what I claim as my invention, and wish to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a rotary rock-boring machine, the cylinder A, constructed with the passage or port D, extending its whole length outside of its bore, entering at its lower end,and connected with its top end by the ports-G and F, said passage D being enlarged at its upper end to cular-faced valve E, arranged to control the amount of air entering at the top or bottom of the cylinder A, all constructed substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

2. The piston B and the connected revolving spindle C, passing out through the lower head of the cylinder A, the piston B having a key iixed in it, working in the groove a in the cylinder A to keep said piston from turning, but allow it to move freely in line ofthe axis of the cylinder A, the groove b in piston B to allow a small portion ot' air to Rass from its bottom to its top side, the whole so arranged that when air is at equal pressure above and below the piston B the air, acting on a larger surface above said piston B, causes the revolving spindle to be forced out through the lower head of the cylinder A to produce feed of the boringbit to the rock, as described and set forth.

3. In a rotary rockboring machine constructed substantially as described,the hollow drill rod or pipe L, with its open end fixed within the hollow revolving spindle C, to receive and convey the exhaust air to the working-bit, l

to refrigerate said bit and to blow the reduced rock from the hole being bored, substantially as described and set forth.

4. In a rock-boring machine, the stationary water-pipe N, xed in the back head, Q, and extending into the hollow spindle. C, for the purpose set forth.

5. In a rotary rock-borin g machine, the combination ,with'the main cylinder A,having the side passage, D, and the ports Gr and F, of the sliding piston B, containing the rotating device, and the revolving hollow spindle C, holding within it and revolving the hollow drill-rod L, substantially as specified and shown.

6. In a rotary rock-borin g machine, the combination, with the main cylinder A, having a side passage, D, and ports F and G, of the double-faced valve E, worked by the wheel H, said valve E arranged to admit air to work the machine, regulate the pressure on the boringbit, and withdraw it from the bore-hole, as set forth.

7 In arotary rock-borin g machine construct- -ed substantially as described, the lower port JAMES BROWN JOHNSON. Witnesses:

CHARLES R. BARCLAY, O. H. BATcnELLoR. 

